Swiss-based container carrier MSC, which is controlled by the Italian Aponte family, has taken taken over the top spot as the world's largest global container carrier - measured by fleet size as well as number of transported containers - ahead of Maersk Line, which has ranked as number one since the late 1990's - a position that was further cemented following the carrier's acquisitions of Sea-Land and P&O Nedlloyd, according to a new study by SeaIntel Maritime Analysis, which reviews data across Maersk Line and MSC's various niche companies.